KUALA LUMPUR: The alleged sexual assault by a former volunteer researcher has been described as nothing more than a malicious political attack against PKR and its President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil said the individual's action was an apparent political attempt to put down the party's image.
The Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament added that the timing of the matter to be made public to coincide with PKR’s annual congress in Melaka was also ‘peculiar ’.
"There is someone who is politically attacking PKR as the party holds its annual congress. The allegation is baseless and the people are already disgusted with such a political attack.
"To me, this is not an issue at all as the person's family had also made a statement on it," Fahmi said.
Muhammad Yusoff Rawther, in a sworn declaration yesterday, had claimed that he had been sexually assaulted by Anwar while working as his researcher. The assault allegedly took place at Anwar’s house.
In a press conference, he alleged that there had been no action by the authorities despite him furnishing a medical report confirming injuries he allegedly sustained.
Yusuff said he filed the Statutory Declaration to protect himself from alleged threats or attack against him recently. However, he did not elaborate further on the matter.
The 26-year-old's granduncle, Mohideen Abdul Kader, through a statement, said the family believes that Yusuff was manipulated by some people to make such claim against Anwar.
Fahmi also said he had read the statement issued by Yusuff's family.
"This is a clear view that there may be a political element on such issue since the congress is being held (now)," he stressed.